Flight activity of two populations of Cotesia flavipes parasitoids reared in the laboratory for 10 generations

For years, the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has proven to be effective in controlling populations of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Brazil. However, there is a growing concern regarding the quality of individuals produced in the laboratory. One of the main problems of insect rearing is inbreeding, resulting in the loss of genetic variability, which can compromise its effectiveness against natural enemies. In this context, we evaluated the flight activity of C. flavipes as evidence of inbreeding on the quality of the parasitoid. Two populations—a population from a biofactory and an inbred laboratory-reared breed—were compared for 10 generations. To ensure inbreeding, newly emerged females were forced to mate with its brother, and individualized couples and females were used for the parasitism of the larvae of D. saccharalis. The evaluations were performed for each parasitoid generation up to the 10^th generation, and the number of individuals flying, walking, and not flying was recorded using a camera flight developed in the laboratory (20-cm high and 15-cm diameter). The results of the ability of flight showed significant differences among random populations across the generations; the best results were obtained from the biofactory population and others for the inbred population. In general, the percentages of insects observed in each category were as follows: inbred population—19% walkers, 46.5% flying, and 25.46% not flying and biofactory population—27% walkers, 39% flying, and 32.8% non-flying. Thus, the rearing of a population of C. flavipes subjected to inbreeding for 10 generations is not sufficient to show the deleterious effects of this event on the flight activity of individuals.